West holds on for first win

FAYETTEVILLE -- Rain poured off Bryan Pratt's clean-shaved head Friday night as the final horn sounded. The Bentonville West football coach basked in the deluge. West, a team many predicted as the favorite in the 7A-West Conference, won its first game of the season by overcoming the weather and a number of injuries to key players by holding off Fayetteville 31-28 at Harmon Stadium in the league opener. "This is huge," said Pratt. "To go on the road, and they are a great team, one of the best in the state, and I know they have some injuries, but we some injuries, too. We just wanted our kids to play hard, and I think in the second half of the Bryant game, we did that. "So for us to come in in a place like this, and get a win, it's huge for us. We never quit, and that's what we're trying to instill in them." Turnovers were a major factor in the outcome as Fayetteville (3-1, 0-1 7A-West) turned the ball over four times including an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Those mistakes, which also included a number of costly penalties, were too much to overcome, said Bulldogs coach Billy Dawson. "You turn the ball over four times, you're not going to beat anybody," Dawson said. "Not to take anything away from West. I thought their quarterback played really well, he made some plays. But turnovers are always the difference." West (1-3, 1-0) played its third-plus game without senior quarterback Will Jarrett, who was injured in the season-opener and is still on crutches from the ankle injury. Pratt said he does not expect Jarrett to be able to play until the end of the season. Dalton McDonald has taken over in Jarrett's place and he fired a pair of touchdown passed Friday night and also had two interceptions. Fayetteville was without starting quarterback Darius Bowers, who injured his left knee in last week's 36-35 win against Bryant. Dawson said Bowers did not suffer any ligament damage and expects he will not miss significant time. In a game featuring two of the 7A-West's most explosive offenses, it was defense that set the tone and played a significant role in the outcome. The biggest play of the night came late in the first half with the game tied 14-14. Wolverines senior safety Hunter Swoboda intercepted a Hank Gibbs pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to give West a 21-14 halftime lead. Fayetteville came back late in the third quarter to tie the score at 21-21 as the Bulldogs took advantage of a short field when Huxley Richardson's punt pinned West at its own one and the Fayetteville defense did not allow West a single yard. After the short punt, Beau Stuckey scored his second touchdown of the game out of the wildcat formation with 4 minutes, 59 seconds left in the third quarter. West answered quickly to retake the lead, needing just six plays to drive 75 yards. McDonald hit Swoboda for 15 yards, and Fayetteville was flagged for roughing the passer, adding another 15 yards. McDonald found Swoboda again, this time for 40 yards to the Fayetteville 5, and McDonald hit Stephen Dyson for the go-ahead score. The Wolverines went up 31-21 at the end of the quarter when Blake McDoulett hit a 22-yard field goal. The Bulldogs climbed back in the game after the McDoulett kick by driving 80 yards to pull within 31-28. Gibbs hit Connor Flannigan for 24 yards, then found Luke Charboneau on a fly route and Charboneau made a beautiful over the shoulder catch for the touchdown. Fayetteville turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter on a pair of fumbles and had the ball at midfield with under a minute left, but Gibbs fired four straight incompletions. "This is big for us, man," Pratt said. "After starting the season off 0-3, to be sitting here now 1-0 in conference and to do that without Will is huge." West will host Springdale High next week, while Fayetteville will travel to Rogers High.

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WEST HOLDS ON FOR FIRST WIN

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Arkansas Online | 9/22/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Shupe